Molding machine



April 23, 1929- l M. L. DODGE ET Ax. 1,709,842

MOLDING MACHINE April/23, 1929- M. L. DODGE Er AL 11,709,342

MOLDING MACHINE Filed 0017. 18. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 23,1929. M. l.. DODGE UAL 1,709,842

MOLDING MACHINE k Filed oct. 18. r192e s Asheets-sheen 3 Patented Apr. l23, 1929.

intr/0N L. DoDeE AND PATENT; o-If-A1='lc"rs".l

HUGH A. JORDAN, or NEWBURYPOM, ianssac'nusn'rrsgsam 'JORDAN Asslenon rro SAID Denen.y

HOLDING MACHINE.

"Application ledvOctober 18, 1926. Serial No. 142,318. l

flhis invention relates to molding machines, more particularly to that type suitable ior molding shoe soles. As` heretofore constructed such machines have commonly been provided with a pair of molding meollanisms, one of which is performing the molding operation, While the other is in condition for the removal-of a molded sole, and the reception of a sole t0 be molded. These two mechanisms are changed from one to the other condition simultaneously. It is often desirable, however, that the molding action be continued for a period longer than isnecessary to remove a molded sole and to replace it with an unmolded sole, but if this is done with a machine constructed as hereinbefore described, the capacity of the machine is materially reduced.

In 'order to provide maximum capacity while increasing the time of the normal molding operation, the machine embodying the present invention is provided with more than two molding mechanisms, which are so arranged that when one is in condition to discharge and receive work, all the others are in molding condition, and in order that an operator may more conveniently and expeditionsly remove and replace work, the several mechanisms are arranged in a movable series, so that the mechanism which is in condition to discharge and receive work at any time, is positioned at a station convenient to the operator.

According to this invention also, the forms which receive the sole are vertically staltionary, the'upper forms being movable toward and from cooperating relation therewith. Provision is made, also, for the upper forms to move directly toward the lower forms to apply molding pressure toI the sole, and when these upper forms are sufiieiently removed from the lower 't'orms they are caused to lnove out ot' the way rearwardly, so that the placing and removal ofthe work is facilitated.` A

AMeans are also provided whereby vthe pressure is applied by the operator, the forms being held in pressure applying relation until they reach or nearly reach the work discharging and receiving station, when the pressure is automatically released andthe upper form removed.

For a morel complete `understan.ding of this inventionA reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figurel is a side elevation of the machinel showing but a single molding mechanism, and that mechanism in its work receiving and discharging station.

Figure 2-is a similar view, but showing the upper form approaching position t0 apply molding pressure to the sole.

Figures 3 and-4 are detailed sections Von line 3 3 and 4-4 respectively of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detailed section on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail partly in section of the upper form movingmechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmental view showing certain arts illustratedin Figure 6 in different positions.

Figure 8 is a mechanism.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmental top plan of the machine. l

Figure 11 is a detailed section on line 11--1'1 on Figure 6.

Referring first to Figures l1 and 2, the machine is shown as comprising a standard 1 having a spindle 2 extending vertically therefrom. On this spindle is journaled a head To this head are attached a series of brackets 4, only one of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each of these brackets is front elevation of a molding 'provided with atop table portion, which as lshown best in Figure 10 is formed of generally sector shape. Each of these table portions supports a lower molding form or block 6 having. its upper face'Z-shapedto the desired. contour to which itisdesired to mold the shoe sole." Euch of these molding-forms may be attached to the table top in any usual manner and as herein shown an .adjusting screw 8 threaded through an upstanding perforated block 9 fixed tothe outer edge of each table member may be used to adjust the block 6 and fix it in'adjustedzposition. Each of the brackets 4 is provided `with a rearward extension 10 adjacent to its upper end, whichis engageable between acircular top plate 11 yat the upper end of the head 3,

and the rearward end of the table portion 5 vpivotcd a treadle 2S.

is constructed to overlie this plate 11 and to be lixed thereto by means of a cap bolt lll. llelow the extension 10, each bracket hasl a vertical wall portion 14, which is adapted to engage in a mating vertical groove l ot the stem portion 16 of the head 3, as shown in Figure 4 there being six ol' these grooves for the reception ot' six brackets 4. yA greater or less number of grooves and brackets might be employed it desired however.

The lower rear end ot' each of the brackets 4 rests on the upper face ot' a base plate 17 `ot the head 3, and between this base plate and mating circular plate 18 at the top of the standard 1 is positioned an element, herein shown as a ball 19, engaging in a socket portion 2O in the under face of element 17 and resting on the upper face of plate 18. This ball furnishes an antifriction bearing for the head 3 and also, in conjunction with a series of radially extending grooves 21 0n the upper surface of plate l18, provides steps or stations in which the head 3 will naturally tend to remain in the course of its turning about the spindle 2.

These grooves 21 and the ball are Aso related that. at each of these stopping positions one ol the molding mechanism is in a desired angular position to properly cooperate with mechanism by which the molding mechanism in that station may be placed in molding condition. At that angular position the standard 1 is provided with a ratchet arm 25, extending outwardly from the axis of rotation of the head 3 and having ratchet teeth 26 cut on its outer face along an are. struck about an axis 27 passing through the standard 1 on which is This treadle has pivoted thereon at 2t) a locking d og 30, which is normally' pressed into locking engagement with the ratchet teeth 26 by means such as a spring 31.

This treadle, as shown more particularly in Figure 9, comprises a pair of spaced treadle arnis 32, one extending on either side of the vertical web portion 33 ot' the standard 1 and joined at their outer ends by means ot a tread plate 34. Each of these treadle arms 32 at an intermmliate point in its length is slotted as at 35. and through this slot extends a pin or shaftlt. Ou this shaft between the treadle arms 32 is pivoted the lower end ot pull rod 37. Outwardl y of' the Larms 32, the pin or sha l't. 36 is lixed to a second pair ot spaced tr nulle arms 40. These treadle arms' together form a second trcadle 41 t'ulerumed on the treadle 2S by means of the pin 42. The pull rod 37, thus has a lost motion connection with the treadle 28, but is pivoted directly to the treadle 41 fulerumed on the treadlc 28. By depressing the foot plate 34, the pull rod 37 may be lowered after the shaft 36 has come into contact with the upper end of the slot 35. 'hen this has been accomplished to the desired extent and the treadle 23 is locked in position -by means of the ratchet meehanism, the treadle 41 may be depressed about its fulcrum 42, thus causing a further downward movement ot' the pull rod 37 as far as may be permitted by the length of the slots 35, this depression ot' the pull rod being accomplished through a shorter level'- arm than before this being the distance between the pins 36 and 42, and consequently a much increased pressure may be exerted on the pull rod 37 through this change of leverage.

The treadle 28 is spring-pressed upwardly as far as may be permitted by the engagement of the dog and the ratchet key 26, by any suitable lncans, as, for example, the coil springr 45 engaging at its lower end in llink 46 fixed to the treadle 28 and at its upper end engaging'an eye 47 lixed to a member 48 extending outwardly from the standard 1. The pull rod 37 carries at its upper end a head 50, having a dovetail slot 51 in its upper end for a purpose which will later appear.

0n either side of each form 6 and supported on the table 5 is a block 60, having its upper end slotted downwardly at right angles to form four spaced upstanding post portions 61. In one of these slots rides` a pivot pin 71, this pivot pin exteuding'outwardly from the form 6. To one end of this pivot pin, outwardly ot' the posts 6l, fixed an arm 72, which, as shown best in Figures l, 2 and 6, is forwardly curved and has depending from its Yl'orward end, and pivoted thereto at 73 a rod 74.

Between the posts 61 the pivot 71 has fixed thereon the lower end ot' an arm 75. The opposite ends of each pair ol arms 75 is pivotcd at 76 to a block 77 to which may he fixed by any suitable means the upper molding form 80. This block 77 and the molding form should be formed complementary in any suitable or usual lnanner by which any selected one of a plurality olf forms may be attached thereto in position to properly cooperate with the form 7 in molding the sole. As such constructions are well known in the art, no detail showing is believed necessary in this case.

The block 77 is shown as provided witha pair of laterally extended ears 8l, each ot which is perforated for the passage ot the reduced upper extremity S2 yot' a link '3. rThis upper extremity is preferably threaded at its extreme end and on this end maybe threaded a nut 84 by which tension may be produced to an adjustable extent on a coiled spring 85 reacting between a washer `86 beneath the nnt- 84 and the upper tace of the ear 8l, which may' be formed with a suitable seattherein to receive the lower end of the spring.' The lower end of e'ach of the links S3 is pivoted on the pivot 7 3 carrying the rod 7 4, `both rod 7 '4 and the link S3 passing between spaced Jaws 90 of the arm 72 (Figure 11). Each of the rods 74 extends pair of rods 74 with which each of the molding mechanisms is provided.

At the. center portion of this yoke 99 it is provided with a perforated boss 100, through which passes a rod 101 slidably guided in a guide opening formed in a boss 102 integral with the bracket 4, and dependingr from the table portion 5, in its central radial axis. The yoke 100 is fixed to the rod 101, which extends downwardly through a guide opening inta support 103, also carried by the bracket 4. When the head 3 is positioned in any of its positions wherein the ball 19 engages in one of the slots 21, one of the rods 101 is positioned in substantially axial alinement with the pull rod 37, so that a headed element 104 on its lower end may engage within the dove tail opening of the head 50, whereby on depressing the treadles 28 and ll, the rod 101 may be pulled downwardly, thus pulling on the rod 74.

lVhen the upper form 80 is out of operative relation to the form 7, as in the position shown in Figure 1, each of the arms 7 5. is turned backwardly and rests ou a suitable support such as a U-shapcd spring arm 110, the lower end of -which is fixed as by means of a bolt 111 to the corresponding block 00. Initial downward,movement of the rods 74 acts to swing the arm upwardly, the links 83 moving forwardly and also :sw-'inging as a unit with the arms 75 and the arms 72 about the pivot pin 71 as an axis. In this initial swinging movement a latch lug 115 (see Figures 6 and 7 extending from the forward end of each of the arms 75, rides downwardly against the inner face of a dog 116, pivoted at 117 between the forward pair of posts G1 of the-block 60, this dog being.

normally pressed rearwardly as far as is permitted bycngagemeut of its upper end with the latch lug 115 by means of a leaf spring 118, thc upper end of which engages the forward face of the dog 110, and the,

lower end of which is fixed to the block 60 as by means of the bolt 120. This engagement between the latch lug and the dog takes place until the latch lug engages a shoulder 121 on the dog. As soon as this engagement has been effected, as shown in Figure 7, further downward movement of the rods 74 causes the dog 116 to swing forwardly against the action of the spring 118 until the latch lug slips off from the shoulder 121. Until this is done the pivot shaft 71 remains substantially stationary vertically but rocks within the slot between the posts 61. As soon as this disengagement of the latch lug from the shoulder has taken place, however, the dog is pressed inwardly against the outer face of the arm 75, the lower end of which is then in substantially vertical figure, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 7 and further downward motion of y the rods 74. then acts to produce a sliding motion of the pivot pins 7l downwardly in their slots, thus to bring the form to its final molding position. The sole being placed on the form 7 and the form S0 be-` ing depressed thereagainst by such vertical motion the moldin pressure 1s applied in proper relation to t 1e lower form 7 without alateral component. It is desirable, however, that when the upper form is raised, it may be `moved bodily away from vertical alinement with the lower form in order to facilitate the removal and placing of soles molded and to be molded respectively, with relation to the lower form 7. 0n initial pressure being applied to the treadle 28, therefore, the upper form 80 is swung over into the proper vertical alinement with the form 7, and is then pulled toward the form 7 by a vertical motion only, the final heavy molding pressure being applied by pressure on the treadle 41, which causes the weight of the operator to be more effective through the increased leverage to apply the desired heavy pressure. As this is done a locking dog 125, pivoted at 126 to the bracket 4 beneath the guide support 103 engages in the" ratchet teeth 127 cut into the side of the rod 101. This dog 125 has an arm portion 128 which acts as a weight to tend to hold this dog in operative relation with the ratchet teeth 127. As the pressure is applied, the springs S5 are somewhat compressed so that when the treadles'are again raised andthe dog 125 has locked the rod 101l in the depressed position yielding pressure'is exerted on the sole positioned between the upper and lower fonns. The sole being now in molding relation, the head 104: may be disengaged from the head 50 and the work table, comprising the series of brackets 5 and the head 3 may be rotated until the adjacent molding mechanism has arrived at the station where its rod 101 is brought into axial alinement with the pull rod 37.

Means is also provided by which as each mechanism approaches the station where it is desired to remove a molded sole and rcplace with an umnolded sole, the molding pressure is automatically released. This accomplished by means of a cam 130 pivoted at 131 to the stand 1 adjacent to the guide portion 103 thereon. This cam 130, as shown best in Figure 5, is provided with a cam face 135 with which the arm 12S of the locking to release dog contacts, as the corresponding molding mechanism is moved toward the work removing and replacing station. -Just before it reaches this station the arm 128 is in the position showgn by the dotted lines in Figure 5, and as it approaches more nearly to this station it rides up the cam face 135, so that it is rocked out of cooperative relation to the ratchet teeth 127, whereupon a pair of springs 140 (see Figure 8) reacting between t 1e yoke 99 and thc table portion 5 pull the rod 101 upwardly and raise, and then swing backwardly the upper molding form 80. By automatically releasing the molding mechanim in this manner, impingement of the depressed rod 101 on the raised head 50 as the table is rotated which might cause breakage or other damage is prevented.

Means is also provided whereby at any time desired the operator, while the molding mechanism is in work receiving station, may release the locking dog. For this purpose a push rod 150 (see Figures 1 and 2) is pivoted to the treadle 28 as at 42, this push rod extending through a perforation in the support 48 in a position to impinge on a lug 152, projecting from the cam member 130 where the treadle 28 is permitted to rise. At any time, therefore, while a molding mechanism is at the work removing and replacing station, raising of the treadle 28 acts the rod 101 of the mechanism at that station thus to cause the upper form to be removed from cooperative relation to the lower form.

As a matter of convenience to the operai tor also, means may be provided by which when the treadle 41 has been depressed as far as desired, both treadles may be released simultaneously. For this purpose a release dog 160, as'shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9, is pivoted to the upper treadle 41, this release dog having a toe plate 161 engageable by the foot resting .on foot plate 162 of the upper treadle, and by which this release dog may be depressed against the pressure of a spring 163 to cause a projecting portion 164. thereon to impinge on the rear end of the dog 30, thus to release this dog from the ratchet teeth 26.

As shown, also, adjacent t are formed to intel-engage for mutual support. `For this purpose each is provided with lugs such as 170, 171 found to lap under the edges of adjacent sections, and. a

marginal lug 172 formed to lap a mating portion of one of the adjacent sections.

Having thus described the embodiment of this invention, it should be evident to those skilled inthe art, that various changes and modifications might be made therein without del'mrting from its spirit or scope as defined by the pending claims.

We claim:

1. A machine of the class described comble sections 5 l wardly when the cooperativeA latch is released, a treadle mechanism at said station cngageable with each of said members when the corresponding mechanism is at said station and actuable to depressing said member, and a. means acting to release each latch when the corresponding mechanism approaches said station.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a stand, a head carried by said stand and rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of radially arranged brackets supported by said head, said bracketshaving sector shaped top portions which together form a table, and a mechanism supported by each bracket, whereby said Inechanisms may be presented successively in one position by rotation of said head. Y

3. A machine of the class' described comvprising a stand, a mechanism carriedby said stand, a treadle pivoted to said stand, means having a lost motion connection to said treadle for actuating said mechanism by depression of said treadle, and a second treadle pivoted to said lirst mentioned treadle and directly connected to said means to actuate said means independently of said 100 first mentioned treadle for the distance of saidlost motion.

4. A machine of the class described comprising` a stand, a mechanism carried by said stand, a treadle pivoted to said stand, ratchet mechanism releasably holding said treadle in any depressed position, means having a. lost motion connection to said treadle for actuating said mechanism byjde- .pression of said treadle, and a second treadle pivoted on said first mentioned treadle and with which said means is in direct connection.

5. A ymachine of the class described comprising a stand, a mechanism carried by said stand, a treadle pivoted to said stand, ratchet mechanism releasably holding said treadle in any depressed position, means having a lost 'motion connection to said treadle for actuating said mechanism` by depression of 'said treadle, a second trcadle pivoted on said first mentioned treadle, and means on said second treadleactuable to release said ratchet mechanism.

6. In a machine of the class described, a form for supporting articles to be molded, vertically slotted guide bloc-ks positioned on opposite sides of said form, an upper form,

a pivot member slidable in the slot of each rguide block, means supporting saidnpper form on said pivot member and normally bers downwardly in said slots to bring said holding said upper form above and out of forms into molding relation while mainvertical alinement with said supporting tained in such alinement. 10 form, and means actuable to first rock said In testimony whereof we have ailixed our 5 upper form about the axis of said pivot signatures.

nwmber to bring said forms into Vertical MILTON L. DODGE. alinvnwnt and foihen. move said pivot mem- HUGH. A. JORDAN. 

